Making Memories

Seoul is one of the most popular gateways to Asia. If you’re flying to or from Southeast Asia, there’s a high chance that you will transit in Seoul. If you have little time during transit, then the Incheon airport provides some nice activities for both kids and adults. If you have more than half a day in Seoul, then instead of just killing time in the airport, go out and see the city!

Tip: If the duration of your transit is less than 24 hours (even if it’s 23 hours, 59 minutes), then it is considered a layover, and not a stopover. Layovers typically don’t cost you any additional fee, while stopovers will most likely increase your airfare. So if you have an extra day and do have the choice of stopping over for 2 hours versus 22 hours (for the same price), then pick the 22-hour-layover so you can see a small part of Seoul.

So, if you have…

Less than 6 hours

It takes about an hour to travel from Incheon airport to Seoul city center, making the roundtrip of about 2 hours. Considering you’ll need to be back at the airport 2 hours before your next flight to go through TSA again, it’s just not worth leaving Incheon. It would be wiser to spend your time on the activities offered in ICN airport.

There are plenty of activities to do inside the airport. One of the most popular is the K-Culture Zone, where you can try on the Hanbok and do Korean crafts like bracelet making and scroll writing, lacquerware making or play Tuho game, and even learn to write your name in Hangul (the alphabetic writing system used for the Korean language).

There are also many exhibits and performances for you to experience like concerts and the royal procession (a reenactment of an aspect of the daily life of the Joseon royal family). Here’s the complete list of experiences to enjoy at the airport.

If you are not interested in any of the above activities, then ICN airport has an amazing duty-free shopping experience. Besides the usual Korean skincare and liquors, ICN has an impressive collection of haute-couture stores such as Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada, Gucci, Loewe, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Omega, YSL (Saint), Moncler, Mont Blanc, etc. the list goes on!!

More than 6 hours

If you have more than 6 hours, then consider reserving for one of the (almost) free transit tours (some tours require a fee of only 3-4 USD for admission ticket). Incheon airport provides tours fitting for every taste ranging from traditional such as the Gyeongbokgung Palace, to trendy like browsing the Hongdae Street, to foodie haven with a trip to the Sinpo Market. Either you’re interested in politics, war zones, or simply a Crash Landing On You‘s fan, the DMZ tour to the Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory, or to Aegibong Peace Ecopark (closest view to North Korea) would satisfy your curiosity. If you’re more interested in nature, then pick the nature tours to Seoul Botanic Park, or to Wolmi Park where you can feed the seagulls. If you are a golfer, there are 2 golf tours offered from both terminals. For a complete list with details of the tours (location, activity, duration, cost, etc.), see the transit guide.

The transit tours are offered to those who have less than 24 hours of transit in Seoul. If you come from a visa-exempt country, you still need to fill out the K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorization). Currently (until December 31, 2025), US citizens visiting South Korea less than 90 days (for tourism purposes) are exempted from the K-ETA. Read through the requirements and instructions on how to reserve your tours, and take advantage of this benefit. The transit tours are great, not only because they are mostly free, have a wide range of interests and guided by the locals, but they ensure that you return to the airport on time so you wouldn’t miss your next flight.

Staying overnight

Overnight in the airport (Incheon)

If you are staying overnight in Seoul/Incheon and are sleeping in the airport, then you still can also take one of the aforementioned transit tours provided by the airport. You can take more than one tours if the timing works out. Then to spend the night in the airport, you can book sleeping pods/capsule hotel/transit hotel, which is more economical than a traditional hotel room, and more convenient if you only have a few hours to rest, since it’s located inside the airport.

Terminal 1

Walkerhill Transit Hotel is located in the East area on the 4th floor of Terminal 1. The Transit Hotel offers a comfortable room (with a shower, hair dryer, smart TV, A/C and Wifi) available in 6 hour blocks. Other amenities include a Business Center and a small Fitness room. The Matina Lounge is available for dining.

For family traveling together, the Transit hotel also has family rooms that can accommodate up to 3 people (room consists of a queen bed and a single bed).

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 also has a similar Walkerhill Transit Hotel. However, the transit hotel in Terminal 2 doesn’t have a fitness, but has access to the Air Cafe, which is open 24 hours. The family room in the Terminal 2 transit hotel is slightly larger, equipped with a King bed and a double bed. For dining, the Matina GOLD Lounge is available.

The Capsule Hotel DarakHyu is also located in Terminal 2. Each capsule is equipped with a comfortable bed, a personal TV, and a power outlet. As the name suggested, the rooms are simply sleeping pods. Shared toilets are available for use during your stay; in-room shower booths are optional. You can book for 3-hour slots (with up to 3 hours additional for a total of 6 hours) for daytime rest between 8am – 8pm, or overnight from 8pm – 8am. If you would like to reserve for more than 6 hours, then you’ll need to contact the front-desk; the online reservation system only allows up to 6 hours. It is important to note that you must go through immigration with a valid visa to Korea in order to stay at the capsule hotel.

Overnight in Seoul

If you are staying overnight in Seoul, then I would not take the transit tour, as they will take you back to the airport at the end of the tour, which would be inconvenient. It takes about about an hour by car from Incheon airport to Seoul city center. With about 24 hours in the city, I would pick an area of interest to explore.

• Bukchon Hanok Village if you like the traditional Korea; this is where you’ll find the traditional houses often seen in historical Korean dramas.

• Insadong if you like history and traditions; here, you’ll find art galleries and craft shops, temples and palaces.
• Myeongdong if you like the nightlife. It’s bustling area with shopping and street food. The Gothic cathedral nearby is also a popular attraction. Seoul tower is also nearby.

• Gangnam is the stylish district with massive underground malls and museums.
• Hongdae is a vibrant nightlife hub near the university. There are lots of street arts and performances, as well as clubs and bars.
• Itaewon is an international dining hotspot. If you have watched the drama with the same name, then no doubt this should be on your list!
• Seongbuk-dong is home to temples and museums and scenic hiking trails with city views.

Many years ago, I spent a week in Seoul, visiting a few of the aforementioned districts. In our recent layover, we stayed in Myeongdong, which was a great choice as we arrived in the evening. The street food was amazing, Myeongdong street scene was fun, and we enjoyed shopping for Korean skincare. There’s a huge Olive Young store here if you’re a fan. The next day, we got to see the changing of the guard ceremony at the Gyeongbokgung Palace (takes place twice a day at Gwanghwamun Gate, the main entrance to the palace, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The ceremony is performed daily except on Tuesdays when the palace is closed.) From Gyeongbokgung palace, we walked to Bukchon Hanok Village to see the traditional houses and visited the Bukchon Hanok Hall (a free-admission museum at 29-1 Bukchon-ro 12-gil).

Fun note: we also saw convenient stores with a table and chairs by the glass wall where you can eat ramen – just like you often see in Korean movies! We didn’t eat ramen there, but did purchase a few Korean ramen cups to eat as midnight snacks back at the hotel. After a few hours browsing the streets in the freezing cold, we couldn’t take it anymore and decided to head back to our warm room and enjoy the ramen!! Seoul’s weather in January was bitterly cold!!

From the airport to Seoul city center, you can use the bus, whose ticket can be easily purchased at the ticket machine at the airport. The fare is very reasonable and the bus is very nice (clean, comfortable, convenient and well air-conditioned/heated). The ride from Incheon airport to Myeongdong took about an hour; traffic gets pretty congested as we near the city center, as expected. Arriving from Incheon, you’ll get a nice view of Seoul, even the famous rainbow bridge; a bonus if you arrive at or after sunset when the city lights up.

While in the city, having access to ride shares is a must. Download the Kakao T app to your phone (for app on Google Play), which allows you to book for taxi, bus, shuttle, city tour, etc. Kakao account can be easily created using your email.

For an overnight stay, we picked an affordable Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeongdong 1 hotel. It is literally in the center of the market, very convenient. Although the hotel does provide currency exchange, just 1 or 2 doors to the left of the hotel, there’s a currency exchange place with better rates (the hotel receptionist told me this, which I thought was so nice!!) The hotel provides complimentary breakfast, very simple but tasty. After checking out, you’re also allowed to use the locker free of charge to store your luggage up to 12 hours, which we graciously took advantage so we could continue to explore Seoul until it was time to return to the airport for our connecting flight.

Tip: Since this is layover, you will not need to pick up your checked-in luggage. So if you’re staying overnight, then ensure to pack a change of clothes and necessities in your carry-on. It’s always a good idea to bring an extra bag in case you need extra storage room for your purchases. We literally had to check in another bag when returning to the airport for our connecting flight!! We brought an Ikea heavy duty fold-up bag that was durable enough to use as a check-in baggage. It survived both flights back from Seoul to Los Angeles and another to Houston without a tear.

Note that Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul. So you can also choose to spend your layover in Incheon instead of Seoul. It is nearer to the airport, so that should save your transfer time. Incheon offers a mix of historical, natural, and modern attractions. Key attractions include South Korea’s first and largest Chinatown, the futuristic architecture and parks in Songdo International Business District, the Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall which commemorates the Incheon landing during the Korean War. You can also enjoy a few hours at the beach along the Incheon Coast, which is especially beautiful at sunset.

When booking for flights, people usually avoid long layovers, thinking it’s just a waste of time. However, transits between flights don’t have to be long and boring! So either your transit is short or long, there’s a full list of activities to kill time. Or if you have an extra day on your trip, then I would intentionally choose a long layover so I could see the city, without having to pay any extra fee for the airfare.